Signs of Change: Social Movement Cultures, 1960s to Now

"If you care about social change, this may well be the most important 'art history' book that you will ever read." —The Yes Men, art activistsDrawn from an exhibition at Exit Art, a cultural center in New York City, Signs of Change is a visual archive of more than 350 posters, prints, photographs, films, videos, music, and ephemera from more than twenty-five nations. Surveying the creative work of dozens of international social movements, from the do-it-yourself graphics and media of the 1960s to today's instantaneous digital technologies, it investigates the themes and representations of global struggles for equality, democracy, freedom, and basic human rights. This groundbreaking work illustrates the extraordinary aesthetic range of radical movements during the past fifty years and explores the rise of powerful countercultures that evolve beyond traditional politics, creating distinct forms of art, lifestyles, and social organizations. 178 pages of full-color illustrations!Edited by Josh MacPhee & Dara Greenwald; Mary Anne Staniszewski, Executive Editor. With essays by Mary Anne Staniszewski, Jeanette Ingberman (Exit Art Co-Director), Josh MacPhee, Dara Greenwald, George Katsiaficas, and Lauren Rosati."Signs of Change evokes the form and fury of political movements as they imagined themselves in print, on posters, and in the midst of struggles throughout the world. It is a beautiful and timely book that will nourish the social and visual imagination for years to come."—Paul Chan, artist"Signs of Change took my breath away, tightened my chest, and made me understand just how much more work lay ahead of us. It's a powerful inspiration." —Swoon, artist